De Bello Civili 1.3

BC 1.3.1Missō ad vesperum senātū omnēs, quī sunt eius ōrdinis, ā Pompēiō ēvocantur.

When the senate had been dismissed towards evening, all who belong to that order are summoned by Pompey.

Note. Missō … senātū: ablative absolute. omnēs quī sunt eius ōrdinis: 'all of the senatorial order'. Pompey canvasses them privately in the evening.

BC 1.3.1laudat promptōs atque in posterum cōnfirmat, segniōrēs castīgat atque incitat.

He praises the eager and encourages them for the future; he rebukes and spurs on the more sluggish.

Note. in posterum: 'for the future'. segniōrēs: comparative of segnis, 'the more sluggish'.

BC 1.3.2multī undique ex veteribus Pompēī exercitibus spē praemiōrum atque ōrdinum ēvocantur, multī ex duābus legiōnibus, quae sunt trāditae ā Caesare arcessuntur.

Many from Pompey's old armies are called up from every side by the hope of rewards and promotion; many are fetched from the two legions that had been handed over by Caesar.

Note. spē praemiōrum atque ōrdinum: 'by hope of rewards and promotions' (ōrdō here means rank, a centurion's post). The two legions were those transferred from Caesar's army.

BC 1.3.3complētur urbs, clīvus, comitium tribūnīs, centuriōnibus, ēvocātīs.

The city, the slope of the Capitol and the place of assembly are filled with tribunes, centurions and recalled veterans.

Note. clīvus: the clīvus Capitōlīnus, the road up to the Capitol; comitium: the meeting place in front of the senate house. ēvocātīs: veterans recalled to service.

BC 1.3.4omnēs amīcī cōnsulum, necessāriī Pompēī atque eōrum, quī veterēs inimīcitiās cum Caesare gerēbant, in senātum cōguntur.

All the friends of the consuls, Pompey's intimates and those who had old feuds with Caesar are herded into the senate.

Note. necessāriī: 'close friends, relatives'. in senātum coguntur: they are herded into the senate meeting to intimidate it.

BC 1.3.5quōrum vōcibus et concursū terrentur īnfirmiōrēs, dubiī cōnfirmantur, plērīsque vērō līberē dēcernendī potestās ēripitur.

By their shouts and their crowding the weaker are frightened and the wavering made firm, and most are robbed of the power to decide freely.

Note. plērīsque … potestās ēripitur: dative of disadvantage, 'the power is taken from most'.

BC 1.3.6pollicētur L. Pīsō cēnsor sēsē itūrum ad Caesarem, item L. Roscius praetor, quī dē hīs rēbus eum doceant;

Lucius Piso the censor promises that he will go to Caesar, and Lucius Roscius the praetor likewise, to inform him of these matters;

Note. L. Pīsō: Caesar's father-in-law, censor in 50. L. Roscius: Caesar's former legate in Gaul, now praetor. quī … doceant: relative clause of purpose, 'to inform him'.

BC 1.3.6sex diēs ad eam rem cōnficiendam spatiī postulant.

they ask for a space of six days to accomplish this.

Note. sex diēs … spatiī: 'six days of time', partitive genitive.

BC 1.3.7dīcuntur etiam ab nōnnūllīs sententiae, ut lēgātī ad Caesarem mittantur, quī voluntātem senātūs eī prōpōnant.

Proposals are also made by some that envoys should be sent to Caesar to set the senate's wishes before him.

Note. quī … prōpōnant: another relative purpose clause, 'to set before him'.